Steam-engine-valve gear



Feb. 9 1926.

E. w. SWARTWOUT STEAM x'.NGINlvALvE GEAR Filed sept. v25., 1920 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITE!) STATES PATENT STEAhI-ENGINE-VALVE GEAR.

Application filed September 25, 1920.

To all whom t may conceive:

Bc it known that l, Evnun'rr T SwAivrwoii'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at lWhite Flains, county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steanrlilngine-Valve Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valve gears for steam engines and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide improved means for operating the inlet valves of a steam engine such` as of the uniflow type for controlling the instants of opening and of closing the valvesand the extents of opening of the valves under varying loads and operating conditions.

Qin such type of steam engines, as unifiow steam lengines, two inlet valves are usually employed, respectively disposed at oradjacent the opposite ends of the engine cylinder and under conditions of use the amount of steam admitted through the respective valves varies according to the work performed by the engine, and accordingly under the condition of high load, the average temperature of the steam in the cylinder isrelatively raised thereby causing the cylinder to elongate and during the condi- 3W tion of low load the average temperature of the steam in the cylinder is relatively lowered and thereby causing the cylinder to contract.

Usually, the frame in which the engine shaft or crank shaft is supported, is secured to one end of the engine cylinder and accordingly such relative expansion and contraction of the cylinder lcauses the head or free endl of the cylinder to undergo displacementrelative to the frame end of the engine cylinder. l

In accordance with this invention, the instants of opening and of closing of the inlet valves and the extents of opening of the inlet valves as regulated fby any approved type of speed governor, are maintained notwithstanding such lrelative. elongation and contraction of the engine cylinder.

ln the more preferred forms of this invention, the speedgovernor, or equivalent, is mounted on the engine or crank shaft and the governor is connected by a suitable eccentric rod to a bellcrank, or equivalent, mounted to oscillate in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of length of the engine cylinder; one inlet valve is operated Serial No. 412,745.

by the bell-crank by means ofa link directly connectingsuch kbell-crank with the movable Valve member of such inlet valve, and the other-inlet valve is controlled by alay shaft extending substantially parallel to the ,longit-udinal axis of the engine cylinder, and mounted on the casing of the engine cylinder and slidable in the direction of the length of the lay shaft relative to the cylinder, such layshaft being oscillated by suitableruniversal connection between the arm carried by the lay shaft and an arm ofthe bell crank.

Further features and objects ofthe invention `will be more fully `understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing diagrammatically a uniiow engine embodying my invention; j Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of` a preferred form of the control and operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1;, s y

d Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional elevation of the lay shaft of the control mechanism of Fig. l n

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation on linet-ofFigS; f Y

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on line 5 5 of Fig, 3;; and f Fig. 6 is a det-ail vertical sectional 'view of ,the` inlet valves indicated in Fig. 1Q

Theuniflow engine, see Fig'. fl, isshown of conventional type and provided with any approved type of inlet valves 2, 3, a frame 4. and a crank shaft 5. The iiywheel is shown at 6. The speed governor, 7, coacting with the fly wheel -6 is of any approved construction, such as the centrifugal, or inertia or'` combination centrifugal and inertia or other standard type, The eccentric rod Sis connected in the -usual Way with the eccentric element 9 of the speed governor 7 andratlits opposite end with the arm 1U of the bell crank 1l, see Fig. 2. i

The bell-crank 11 is pivoted at l2 at one side of the frame of the engine and preferably the pivot pin l2 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the engine cylinder Theb'ell crank 1.1 as sho-wn comprises `three arms, namely the aforesaid arm l0, thea m i3 and' the arm la. The arni '13 is provided at its free end with the universal joint or connection l5 connecting with the vlink 16, the opposite end of the link 16 being connected through ythe. universal joint or connection l head end 23 of the engine cylinder 1.

The oscillatingvarm 424 controlling (the inlet valve 3 is connected to the laylshvaltt l19 by means of the collar to which the arm 24 is outwardly held .by means ot the outer iliange 2G of thecollar 25 and. inwardly held bythe lateral face 27,*of the bearing 21. The inner face ot' thehub 28 of the collar 24 is circular as is also the outer face ot the collar 25 andthe aiin 24 is adjustably posi# tioned on the collar 25 by means of the set screw 29. The inner face of the collar 25 is polygonal .such as hexagonal or the like, and conforming to ,the outer 'lace 31 ot' the lay shaft 19, the cross section of the y polygonal face 30 'of the collaru25being slightly larger than thecross section area ot the lay shalft 19 to permit displacement ot the lay shaft 19 relative to the bearing'21, as will appear more 4fully hereinafter. The collar 251 is positioned by means ot the plate 32 adjustably secured to the collar 25 by ineansotth'erset nuts l The collar S4 ofthe `l'iearing 2O is providedavith an Vouter tace ot Icircularcontouii conformingto the inneriiaee 36' of CII the bearing21,.-simi1lar to the co'llaif25 lrelativeL to the 'bearing 1.2.1 @ad .Similarly the .einer face 3810i the .Cellar 34 muteren t0 the polygonal Centaur @fthe 'Outer rac@ `of the Vlay shaft 19, the cross section et' the @Olla-r 9 4 beine .Substantially .ef-incl t@ the crosssection of the lay shaft 1 9 to ,cause a tight @it between the Collar 34 rei-d the 121i' sha ft.1,9. 'lhecolrlar 341s positioned on the bearing 2051er ,means Qi" the. Outer Halie@ .S9 oftlie'collar`34 `and the positioning` plate 40 hlving the .adjustable set nuts 41.' lt dcsired, Z,the cross `section yof thefface 38 ot Vlthe collar 34 ymay be slightly larger than the cross section ofthe polygonal'faces of the Alay sha-tt 19 tand `the lay shaft 1-.9 retained iii position-,relative .to {tlie'beariiig 2O by providing the inner polygonal -iace :42 oit the `retainiigig plate- 49- .of ,substantially coinf The Qscllatne arm 2,4 is .Celineied with the movable element of the valve 3 by means of iii@ nur .er c

".rlhe movable valve element of inlet valve 2fis controlled by the anni 14 of the bell crank ll thieue'h .the .lever 4.4: rvoted to a suitable bracket '46 attached to the frame 4 'andthe link .47 connecting the lever 44 with the arm 48 of the movable element 'of the inlet valve 2.

Under the condition of increased load, whereby the engine shaft is relatively retarded, and thereby retardiiig the tly wheel (S, the speed governor 7 actiiates its eccentric V9'to operate the eccentric rod 8vto cause the unitiow inlet valves 2, 3, to acquire a relatively earlier instant oi' opening and a relatively longer period of extentl ot opening,

under which condition of increased load, the increased volume of steam passing through the engine cylinder 1 raisesl the teinperature of the engine cylinder 1, thereby elongating the cylinder and in the i'oi'iii ot `the engine shown, resulting in causing the head end of theeiigine cylinder 1 tobe displaceda greater distance lron'ithe traine end, 22 ,of the cylinderl, 'likewise causing the bearing'21-and the valve 3 to be moved Aaway `from the bearing 20. However, notwithstanding suoli displacement oit the opposite ends of the engine cylinder, the lay shaft 19 being retainedagaiiist.displacement inthe direction ot itsV length relative to the bearing 20, as aforesaid, is permitted to be displaced in the direction ot its length relative to the bearing 21 by means of the clearance'between the outer contour 31 ol the lay shaft and positioning plate 32.

i Under thev coiiditoirof low load, the relatively decreased voluin'e olf steain passing through theengine cylinder 1k causes the saine to berelatively contracted whereby the head end 2S o'l the cylinder 1 approaches the traine end 22, and likewise thebeai'iiig 21the valve '3 and the operatnigmechanism 2.4, 4S,to approach the bearing 20, but notwitl'istaivilmino` -the lay shaft `19 is permitted to 'be displaced relatively to itsI bearing 2 brit retainedi'elatively to its bearing 29.

`The practical extent of displacement o'l the .valve 2 relative .to the pivotal center ol .the biiaclretl-l during such stages ol con-voscillated, thereby v oscillating .its arm 1?), link 16, uarm 18, and thereby the lay shaft 19 andby reason of the polygonal engagement between the lay shaft 19 and the collar `24 is correspondingly oscillated to properly controltlie'movable valve elements vof the inlet valve 3, to yprovide for thc rate of iiifloiv of the .steamA4 therethrough, rand thereby lll() maintain the speed of the engine substantially constant, in which operation the nievable element of the inlet valve 2 is correspondingly operated by the arm 14E through the lever lll and link 47 as aforesaid.

InFig. 6, I have indicated one form of approved type of an-inlet valye for the cylinder l, and as an illustration, I have shown the inlet valve 3 operated by its oscillating` arm 2l. It will be understood that the proper adjustmentsffor the initial settingof the movable elements of the inlet valves 2, 3, relative to the eccentric member 9 of the speed governors 7 are provided in accordance with well known practice. v

lllhereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, lt will be understood that many changes and modifications may bemade Without departing' from the spirit. of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim.

1. The combination with an engine provided ivith a cylinder, a plurality of inlet valves for said cylinder, a frame, a crankshaft carried by said frame and a governor mounted on said crank-shaft, one ofsaid valves being disposed adjacent said frame and the other of said valves disposed remotely from said frame, of oscillating),- means operated by said governor, means directly connecting;` said oscillatingmeans With said one valve, an arm for oscillating said other valve and separate connecting means connecting said oscillating` means With said arm,

said other valve, and means for mounting said separate connecting means on said cylinder and for operatively connecting said arm relative to said separate connectinn means for nniintaining;l the angular operation ol said separate connecting meansv relative to said arm independently of the ariations of the length of the cylinder duc to variations of temperature and the .consequent variation of displacement of said one inlet valve relative to said other inlet valve.

2. The conibination With an engine provided with a cylinder, a plurality of inlet valves for said cylinder, a frame, a crank shaft carri-ed by 'said frame and a governor mounted on said crank shaft, one of said valves being' disposed adjacent said frame and the other of said valves disposed ren'lotely from said frame, .of oscillating means operated by id governor, means directly conneclimgj .said oscillating.;- means with said one valve and separate means connecting said oscillating means with said other valve, said 'separate connectingl means including an scillatory shaft and an arm oscillated by'` said oscillatory shaft,.and means for mounting said oscillatory shafton said cylinder to permit the displacement of said oscillatory shaft relative vto said oscillated arm incident valves for said cylinder, a frame, a crank shaft'carried by said frame and a governor mountedon said crank shaft, one of said valves being disposed adjacent said frame and the other of lsaid valves disposed remotely from said frame, of oscillating means y operated by said governor,` means directly connecting said oscillating means with said one valve and separate means connecting said oscillating means With said other valve, said separate connecting means including an oscillatory shaft and an arm oscillated by 'said oscillatory shaft, and means for mounting said oscillatory shaft on said cylinder to permit the displacement of said oscillatory shaft relative to said oscillated arm incident to the expansion and contraction of said cylinder under varying temperature conditions,

said mounting means comprising a bearing,` carried by said cylinder and a collar mounted in said bearing, 'said collar having; a sliding fit with said oscillatory shaft, said separate connecting means further including a connection between said arm and said oscillatory shaft to afford the displacement of said oscillatory v'shaftrclativc to said arin in the direction of length of said oscillatory 'shaft without varying the angular relation between said arm and said oscillatory shaft.

Ll. The. combination with an engine provided ivith a cylinder, a. plurality of inlet valves for said cylinder, a frame, a crank shaft carried by said frame and a governor mounted on said crank shaft, one 0f said valves being` disposed adjacent said frame and the other of said valvesdispescd remotely from said frame, of oscillating means operated by said governor, `means directly` connecting said oscillating means with said one valve and separate means connecting said oscillating means with said other valve, said separate connecting means including an oscillatory shaft and an arm oscillatcd by said scillatory shaft, and means for n'iountingr said oscillatory shaft on said cylinder to permit the displacement of said oscillatory shaft relative to said oscillated arm incident to the expansion and contraction of-said cylinder under varying temperature conditions, said mounting means comprising a bearing carried by said cylinder and a collar mounted in said bearing, said collar having a sliding lit with said oscillatory shaft, and further comprising a bearing, a collar mounted in 'said secondmamcd bearing and having a tight tit with said oscillatory shaft, said separate connecting means further including a connection between said arm and said oscillatory sha-ft to afford the displacement of said oscillatory shaft relative to said arm in the direction of length of said oscillatory shaft Without varying the angular relation between 'said arm and said oscillatory shaft,

5. The combination of aA uniflow engine provided with two materiallyspaced*inlet valves, a lav shaft extending substantially parallel to the axis of the engine cylinder, a plurality of materially spaced bearings, a collar in .fixed relation to said lay'sliatt and rotatably mounted in one of said bearings. a second collar in variable relation to said lay shaft in its direction of lengthand rotatably mounted in the other of saidA bearings7 an arm carried by said lay Ishaft and operating one of said valves, rocking means, pivotal means for said rocking means extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said engine cylinder, universal connecting means between onev arm of said rocking means and said lay shaft; operating means connecting the other Lof 'said inlet. valves with said rocking means, a. goyernor mounted on the shaft of said engine and an eccentric rod connecting said governor With said rocking means, Without varying the functional relation of the lay shaft to the valves or the governor.

In testimony whereof 'I have signed this specilication this 20th day of September, 1920.

nvnn'nfrr W; sWAnTWoUT. 

